Learn About 1781 North American Tokens
The North American Token of 1781 is like a number of colonial coins. It is a mystery as to who struck these tokens and why. But there is no mystery as to whether they circulated in the colonies. They certainly did. Especially in New England and close to Canada.
The token is often attributed as having come from Ireland due to the Harp that appears on it. Much like Wood’s Hibernia coinage of 1723, the token has a similar appearance. The obverse depicts a seated figure of Hibernia (representing Ireland) with a large harp held in her right hand. She is facing to the left. Around her are the words “NORTH AMERICAN TOKEN” above, and the date “1781” below. The “North American Token” legend assured that 19th and 20th-century coin collectors would add this token to their colonial coin collections.
The reverse depicts a ship in full sail heading to the left with the word “COMMERCE” above it.
This token has also been collected with copper or brass Canadian commerce tokens of the era. The Charlton Canadian coin catalog claims that this token was produced in Dublin, Ireland, in 1825, and it was back-dated to 1781 to avoid any Canadian import taxes on ‘modern’ coinage. Even if that is true, the number of these tokens found represented in US colonial coin collections is significant.
Most of the tokens though were slightly oddly shaped since they were not struck in a collar as most coins are. They also tend to be very weakly struck on both sides. Combine that weak strike with reasonably heavy circulation and it makes finding a well-struck piece very difficult to fine and very desirable. Full Mint State examples may not even exist as known are currently known.
Expand your collection today and find a 1781 North American Token AU-55 PCGS (Brown).
